Bahrain’s Al Ahli get tough draw for Asian clubs volleyball

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain’s Al Ahli Club have been drawn in one of the toughest pools for the preliminary round of the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship, set to be held in the Kingdom from May 14 to 21.

The tournament is being organised by the Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) in cooperation with the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), with the participation of clubs representing 16 nations from across the continent.

These teams are set to be announced at a later date by the AVC.

Bahrain’s representatives Ahli will be taking on outfits from South Korea, Australia and Indonesia in Pool A.

Pool B will feature clubs from Iran, Iraq, Chinese-Taipei and Afghanistan; Pool C will consist of teams from Japan, Thailand, Mongolia and Yemen; and Pool D comprises squads from Kazakhstan, Qatar, Hong Kong and Kuwait.

Aside from being a continental championship, the winners of the annual tournament qualify for the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship.

This year’s event will be the second time the Kingdom has staged the competition.

It previously held the 2007 edition, which was won by Paykan Tehran of Iran. A Bahrain club has yet to step onto the podium in the tournament.

Last year’s competition was also won by Paykan at home, where they defeated Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds in the final.